but maybe a bit rest-less.
I left the States eaarly Wednesday, on week ago. (Following a 5.5 hour drive to Phoenix the day before.) Flew direct to NY. Had a 7hr. layover. Flew to Dublin. Had another 7 hr. layover (this time I left the airport to explore the streets of central Dublin, walk around the sweetest library ever in Trinity College, and stop at pubs for some tasty vegetable soup and a Guiness. classic. Also, it was cold there. Like maybe 50 degrees. also classic, right? But It was sunny most of the time, so I guess that was lucky. Also the smell of the sea when I first stepped off the plane was great.)
then flew to Madrid, and hauled my stupid suitcases through the stupid metro and streets-under-construction to my friens' house. Dropped the stuff off and got back into the metro and went in search of them at a bar. They were relaxing and eating after house-hunting (they have to move soon). I was tired. I wanted to shower and bed. Ohwell. Hung out and talked for a long time, then went back to the house and did the same. It was fun... One Portuguese, one Slovak, and two United Statesians (including me).
The next day, after a long night's rest, I went out to coffee with my friend, we did some exploring, and then had lunch with our other friend during her break. Also along for the ride was her Irish friend who is studying in Pamplona and was going to play with us in the tournament. (In the end I think there were only 2 spaniards on the team...hah...)
So next day, tourney. Open and womens championship of Spain. It was on artificial turf which meant that any of us awesome/stupid enough to layout have burns all over the knees, elbows and hips... And I think the little black chips of tire helped to heat the field and burn us through our cleats in the near 100 degree weather.
this is me, jumping up to D a disc from the other team. I have no face, but I have red hair. [photo taken by Hermann Kaser]
For a team of mostly pickups who'd never played together before, we did pretty good and pulled 3rd place out of the 8 teams of chicas there. (I think there were 13 open teams.) We should have actually played int he finals, but we kinda choked when the other team pulled a zone D on us and none of the girls on our team normally play handler...kind of key when you're trying to swing the disc back and forth and find tiny breaks in the D... But anyway, we didn't deserve to win that game, so the other team went on to play finals and get 2nd. I was honestly okay with sitting in the shade and watching it...
And then after two days of ultimate (I am NOT in ultimate shape! wow!) I was really sore. And tired. And having trouble sleeping. Maybe partly from jet lag. The next day I went to a museum with a friend from the Canary islands and then out to lunch.
Then walked way too much.
And then I got up the next morning, hauled all my stuff through the metro again (only to find that one of the lines I wanted was closed for construction, so I had to get out, catch the special bus to do that transit, and get back in the metro for a few more stops. All with my stupid suitcases. And taking way longer than I planned. When I got to the bus station I had 15 minutes before the bus I wanted was leaving. Fine, I thought. And then I saw the line at the ticket counter. *sigh* Didn't happen. So then I waited another hour (which is not so bad, sometimes the next bus isn't for 3 or 4) and hopped on to Granada. Got a city bus from the station that would take me close to my new flat, and called my new "compi" (housemate) when I got there. She came to meet me and pulled one of my suitcases along. yay.
Then I went and bought some bread. (And a few other things to survive on until I figure out where the best grocery stores/fruterías/panaderías are nearby.)
But just incase you were starting to feel sorry for me, for being all exhausted and stuff (don't worry, I'm not flattering myself, I know you weren't...) ;) this is the view to the east from my new balcony. That's right, I have a balcony this year. hurrah! And it faces south. Perfect for winter sun-soaking while having a coffee in my pj's...hehe..
